PAOK B.C. edged Panathinaikos AKTOR B.C. 84-82 in a thrilling Greece Super Cup clash, stunning the favourites in a game that came down to the final possession. The Thessaloniki side delivered a composed, disciplined performance to lift the trophy, while Panathinaikos were left to rue missed opportunities in a contest they controlled for long stretches.

Match Overview

The Super Cup serves as the traditional curtain-raiser to the Greek basketball season, pitting the country's leading clubs against each other before the domestic league tips off. This edition delivered everything a neutral could want: a tight scoreline, momentum swings, and a finish that required nerve from both benches. Panathinaikos entered as the heavy favourites given their recent dominance at home and in Europe, but PAOK's defensive game plan and clutch shooting turned the script upside down.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

• First quarter: Panathinaikos 20-22 PAOK — the underdogs started aggressively on both ends.
• Second quarter: Panathinaikos 19-18 PAOK — the favourites steadied and trimmed the deficit to one.
• Third quarter: Panathinaikos 21-23 PAOK — PAOK responded every time Panathinaikos threatened to pull away.
• Fourth quarter: Panathinaikos 22-21 PAOK — a frantic finish, but PAOK held their nerve.
• Final: Panathinaikos AKTOR B.C. 82, PAOK B.C. 84

How PAOK Pulled Off the Upset

PAOK's blueprint was clear from the opening minutes: slow the game down, force Panathinaikos into contested half-court possessions, and attack the offensive glass. They succeeded on all three counts. By limiting transition opportunities, they denied Panathinaikos the easy baskets that usually fuel their runs, and by controlling the tempo they kept the crowd from turning the game into a rout.

Offensively, PAOK shared the ball superbly. Their guards probed the paint, drew help defenders and kicked out for open jumpers, while their big men finished efficiently inside. The result was a balanced scoring effort that made them difficult to defend for 40 minutes.

Panathinaikos's Frustrations

For Panathinaikos, the defeat will sting because the game was there for the taking. They led at moments in the second half but could not sustain separation, and their half-court offense became stagnant when PAOK switched aggressively on screens. Free-throw shooting and turnovers in the final five minutes proved costly, and a rushed attempt on the last possession summed up a disjointed closing stretch.

The positives were still visible: strong interior play, a physical rebounding presence, and sparks of the transition brilliance that makes them one of Europe's most feared sides. But the Super Cup is a one-game trophy, and one-game trophies reward execution rather than reputation.

Key Players

• PAOK's backcourt: controlled the tempo, made smart decisions late and knocked down the biggest shots of the night.
• PAOK's frontcourt: battled on the boards and converted second-chance opportunities that proved decisive in a two-point game.
• Panathinaikos's leading scorer: carried the offense for long stretches but lacked consistent support in the fourth quarter.
• Panathinaikos's bench: provided energy but could not match PAOK's production in the decisive minutes.

What It Means

Winning the Greece Super Cup gives PAOK an early-season confidence boost and a trophy to build on as they head into domestic league and European competition. For Panathinaikos, the loss is a useful wake-up call: the margins at the top of Greek basketball remain razor thin, and nothing can be taken for granted, even against a rival they are expected to beat. Both teams will meet again in league play, and that rematch now carries extra intrigue.